INDIANAPOLIS – Seton Hall outscored Butler 24-8 in the fourth quarter to come back and win by the final score of 67-62. Barbara Johnson and Alexis Lewis fueled the scoring spree over the final 10 minutes of the game. The result moves Butler to 8-4 overall and now 0-1 in the BIG EAST Conference.
Butler broke a 37-37 tie in the third quarter with a 17-2 scoring run. Their lead was cut to 54-43 at the end of the third quarter after a banked in 3-point field goal from the Pirates. Seton Hall turned up the defensive intensity and sprinkled in full-court pressure over the final 10 minutes of action. The strategy paid off as they got Butler off-balanced and collected their eighth win of the season.
A 9-2 SHU scoring run at the start of the fourth would get the visiting team within four points at 56-52. The 'Dawgs held onto a slim 58-55 advantage at the final media timeout with 4:05 left to play.
Seton Hall tied the game at 60-60 with a 17-6 scoring run and their first lead of the day would come moments later after a pair of free throws from Barbara Johnson. Johnson was huge in crunch time, scoring eight of her team-high 18 points in the final frame. She also hit the go-ahead 3-pointer for SHU with just 28 seconds left in the game.
Johnson and Alexis Lewis scored 16 of the final 24 points for Seton Hall. Other key contributors were Shadeen Samuels with nine points and 11 rebounds and Mya Jackson off the bench with seven.
Butler got a double-double performance from
Kristen Spolyar with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Spolyar helped BU jump out to a 9-0 lead, but the Pirates would counter early with nine-straight points. Oddly enough, BU would score the next nine points before a Pirate free throw and land an 18-10 lead after one.
All five BU starters scored a field goal in the first quarter allowing the 'Dawgs to enjoy their lead. BU shot 58 percent in the first half, but turnovers and second chance points would keep Seton Hall within striking distance.
The Pirates scored 24 points off 20 BU turnovers and won second chance points 19-2. Butler wanted to get the ball inside where they owned the 34-18 advantage in points in the paint, but Seton Hall wanted to run, allowing them to score 17 fast break points.
Shae Brey and
Katherine Strong would each join Spolyar in double figures, but the Bulldogs couldn't find enough points down the stretch to win their BIG EAST home opener.
The team will return to action on Tuesday afternoon with a 4 PM tip vs. St. John's.
